Children of the Horned Rat,
My return to work at the Bibliothèque nationale de France is smooth. I hope it is the same for you.
I would like to remind you that my drawing order proposal is still valid. To facilitate the collection of responses, I opened a survey, where I invite you to choose which member of the Steiner siblings you want to see illustrated by Ziegelzeig. I will make the order next September.
Fanfiction websites have an annoying tendency to delete all or part of the lettering from the link lines. So I can't give you the address of the survey directly. On the other hand, I invite you to go to the DeviantArt page named ChildrenOfPsody – my page – and go see the deviation "A new Steiner". There you will find the link to the survey.
Thank you in advance for who will play the game and vote.
Glory to the Horned Rat!
Psody and Romulus were walking side by side in the corridors of the Steiner mansion. The White Skaven laughed softly.
- I didn't believe it a single second-second, Romulus.
- Was he so unconvincing?
- The only thing that scared me was the fear to let it go and burst out laughing in front of him so it was ridiculous-grotesque! Everything was bogus! He didn't even pay attention to his words!
- What do you mean?
- He blamed me for killing Vellux. However, killing-killing your master is the normal course of things for every Grey Seer!
- Yes, and in addition, I can hardly see your god blaming you for having eliminated a White Skaven weaker than you, and therefore unworthy of him. Anyway, be careful, Psody! That means he is personally mad at you. Maybe he was a friend of your former master?
- Vellux had no friends, only slaves or rivals.
The two friends entered a particular place. The Steiner mansion had a room to receive a war council. It was a very large, sober room, with a table large enough to unroll several maps. In fact, there was a Vereinbarung map on it. Benches were set up around the table, allowing dozens of people to attend a meeting and discuss upcoming strategies for an important battle.
Near the table were already assembled the Prince, the Bright Mage Steadyhand, Marjan and Jochen Gottlieb, as well as Commander Johannes Schmetterling and Nedland Barnrooster. And all around, there were about twenty soldiers installed on the benches. Men and women, Humans and Skaven were exchanging opinions.
The Prince's face lit up at the sight of the two men.
- Ah, my friend! My son! We were just waiting for you.
Everyone made silent. The Prince then spoke:
"Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to you and the soldiers you command, peace has been effective since we arrived in Vereinbarung six years ago. I thank you, all of you, Commander Schmetterling in first. Unfortunately, this peace is today threatened. You may have noticed worrying signs in recent weeks: rumors, suspicions, fears... I have to tell you we are the victims of an attempted invasion of Feral Skaven. Until now, they had spared your Principality, but we ended up attracting their attention, and one of their mystical masters declared war on us."
"There was an assassination attempt. As you know, its author has been publicly… executed. But we have had other attacks, more discreet but more vicious still. Our enemy is a Grey Seer, a Feral Skaven spiritual master. It wanted to use his evil powers against us. However, in doing so, it made a serious mistake: it lacked prudence, and we were able to spot it. Normally, he doesn't know that we've broken through its tricks yet. Master Steadyhand?"
The tall Elf approached the table.
- The Grey Seer used the Warp magic in order to try to scare our friend Prospero. And this idiot left traces of magic all over the room! I succeeded the identification of these traces. I've spent the last two days analyzing them, doing magic wind calculations, and I'm now able to tell you exactly where these Warp magic streams come from. Our little prankster is hiding very exactly…
He put a firm finger on the map.
- Here.
The Prince, the Master Mage and the Commander bent over the plan in turn.
- "Kreidesglück"… Barnrooster?
- It's an old limestone mine, Your Majesty. We spotted it pretty quickly as we arrived in the country, but we quickly labeled it an "abandoned structure". The rock it contains is far too brittle to be fully exploitable. Gotrek Gurnisson had found us much better deposits in other areas. It is an open pit, but it also includes many tunnels.
- The perfect hiding place for Feral Skaven, commented Schmetterling.
The Elf observed:
- You will notice, your Highness, Kreidesglück is not at all close to the border with Sueño. The kingdom of Prince Calderon lies to the north, a little to the east, while this quarry is fully to the northwest. I could be wrong, but I wonder if these Feral Skaven are the same as those who attacked Nichetti Estate?
- Do you think there would be two colonies led by the White Skaven who threaten Sueño?
- Maybe.
The White Skaven felt an unpleasant little bite in his stomach.
- What if it was not the same one? What if the White Skaven that our men saw at Nichetti Estate was different from the one hiding-hiding in this pit?
- This, my friend, is a question you only have one way to find the answer: get it! For this, we'll need all of our resources.
- Our men are used to confront Feral Skaven, reminded Schmetterling. Of course, they will prefer to fight underground, but we can defeat them there. Ideally, we should force them to fight in the open air.
- We have to put all the odds on our side anyway, Commander. Psody, your golden mask will probably be very useful!
Psody looked at his adoptive father ruefully.
- We'll have to do without my mask, Father. I've used it to purify Nichetti Estate. However, the ritual required a particularly high-significant expenditure of magic energy!
The Prince frowned.
- Are you telling me your mask can never work again?
- No, Father, it remains functional. Merely, it needs time to recharge. It will take several more weeks for this, perhaps more than a month.
- And we don't have a month, grumbled Schmetterling.
- I have another idea. Maybe your son's inventions could help us?
- Possible. Should we ask him?
Steiner rang the bell to call a servant. A livery Human entered the room.
- Go get me Gabriel!
The servant bowed and disappeared. Two long minutes later, the little light grey Skaven passed his muzzle through the door, and timidly crossed the threshold. Behind him, his older sister Bianka looked anxiously. Psody motioned for him to approach.
- Come in, Gab. Don't be afraid.
But it was already too late. The young inventor was literally petrified by all these grown-ups who were watching him. Suddenly, this situation reminded him of a nightmare he had regularly: he had the impression of being naked in front of a whole crowd of giants who laughed with open throats, pointed at him, and mocked him.
He remained paralyzed, trembling, his eyes wide open, his mouth trembling. He felt his stomach twist painfully when he spotted impatience on the faces of Humans and Skaven. His teeth chattered so fast that he almost bit his tongue. Even the reassuring smile of Prior Romulus had no positive effect.
It was Bianka who took the lead. She advanced towards her brother, took him by the hand and whispered:
- Everything is fine, don't worry, we just need you.
And they slowly advanced together towards the big table, in stifling silence. The adults were watching the two young Skaven. Some figures became severe, others remained impassive. On the way, one of the lieutenants made a sudden move towards the brother and sister. Gabriel leaps back with a little cry. Bianka hurriedly hugged him and rubbed him.
- Please, mind your manners! exclaimed the girl. It's already quite difficult enough!
Seeing the soldier's indifferent look, the White Skaven sighed in annoyance. Steiner said calmly:
- Commander Schmetterling, you'll inflict him a deduction from his pay.
- Right, your Highness.
- And try to hold your men better if you don't want to be next.
The tall red-haired human made no reply, but this time he felt nervousness tickling his backbone. The little grey Skaven advanced painfully, his eyes fixed on his toes so as not to meet any glance. His older sister led him to the table, her hands gently resting on his shoulder.
Prince Steiner felt that he was going to have to deploy treasures of patience to get Gabriel to speak without traumatizing him. He relaxed his face as much as he could to reassure the little ratman.
- Gabriel, our army will have to face the Feral Skaven.
- Face? War? We... are we at war?
- Yes, alas.
- Will be... injured people? Dead… people?
- We will do everything to prevent this from happening. The best way to fight with minimal risk would be to use your sleep gas. We'll need very large quantities. They hide in a quarry with tunnels. If we bomb them with gas, everyone outside will be neutralized, and we can spread it in their galleries.
Gabriel, sweating, swallowed loudly.
- Unfortunately, Opa, that is not possible.
- Why?
- Because... because... first of all, it's a very airy place. My gas is very volatile. In tunnels, it remains effective for a long time, but in open air, it can just put some people to sleep, and that will not be enough for an army, it will be dispersed too quickly.
Commander Schmetterling wanted to find something to say to encourage the little young ratman.
- Well, if it's effective in tunnels, there are wells, air vents... We can launch grenades. Then we will pursue those who will not be neutralized by gas.
The little light grey Skaven swivelled toward the commander, but nervously stared at his toes.
- There... there is... another problem... my lord: I don't have any more!
- Haven't you stockpiled gas tanks? asked Steiner.
Gabriel dared to raise his head to look at his grandfather askance.
- This gas loses its effectiveness in two or three weeks, even if it is preserved. I should be able to improve it, but I still need time to find a better formula. That's why I never made more than needed when there was a Harvest.
Psody remembered something.
- What about the gas that was used for the bobby-trap in my bed? Did you have to change it regularly, too?
- No, it's another, but even more... volatile. In addition… it takes a very long time… to distil. I would... have to succeed... in mixing... the two... formulas.
The little light grey Skaven lowered his nose, and his tears fell on the carpet.
- I... I'm... sorry.
The Prince leaned toward the young ratman. Gabriel curled up and tightened his face with all his might, as if he were anticipating a slap. The Human reached out, placed a benevolent hand on his shoulder, and murmured in a soft voice:
- It doesn't matter. We'll do otherwise. I'm sure you did everything you could. You can leave now.
Gabriel swallowed, stepped back, turned on his heel, and ran to the door with scared gasps as fast as he could. The less attentive only had time to see the tip of his pink tail disappear through the opening.
The faces were upset. There were even some annoyed sighs. Which hardly escaped the sharp hearing of the White Skaven.
- My son is what he is. Thanks to his inventions, you made the last Harvests without the slightest injury-casualty. Has anyone something to say?
No one answered.
- Good. We will have to act-proceed in a more conventional way.
Bianka also withdrew. Steiner asked:
- Commander Schmetterling, how do you see things?
- Well, this map doesn't give us a very precise configuration of the place. I can send a scout right now for him to observe and report back to us. But all quarries are alike. They will do everything to stay in the tunnels? Well, we will stick them up there. I recommend to have a good amount of gunpowder, and we'll craft bombs to make the ground collapse. Since we have no use for this quarry, we might as well go for it. Those who don't die in the explosions will be crushed by the landslides, and all the others will flee.
- A strategy that is worth another. I am sure Master Steadyhand will be happy to help.
The Elf smiled mischievously.
- Your Majesty is absolutely right.
The Prince raised his index.
- On the other hand, it is primordial to put the Grey Seer who leads them out of harm's way! If we let it go, it might want to come back for revenge.
- Are the Feral Skaven resentful? asked Schmetterling.
- You can't-don't know how much!
- You know what you're talking about, Master Mage. All right, we shall do whatever is necessary. Back to the barracks, we leave tomorrow morning at sunrise!
With these words, Commander Schmetterling left the council room, immediately followed by his men.
Only the Prince, the Master Mage, the Bright Magister, the Chaplain, the Halfling scout and the Gottlieb Twins remained.
- All this doesn't amuse me, grumbled Romulus. I fear there will be heavy losses.
- You're right, my friend. But even if it means losing citizens, better to be soldiers who have chosen to fight for their principality than women and children.
- Gabriel's gas would have been useful, murmured Jochen.
- We'll have to do without it, so don't think about it anymore!
- Another thing bothers me, Psody observed.
- What?
- The traitor was probably among us.
An awkward silence followed this sentence. Silence that the Prince broke.
- Unfortunately, it was necessary to bring together the war council, my dear.
- Maybe Schmetterling should have been the only-unique brought in?
- Unless he's your traitor, Marjan quipped.
Steiner cleared his throat.
- I recruited Schmetterling when I learned he had been under the direct orders of Count Elector Boris Todbringer. For me, this remains a pledge of loyalty. The Rat Kingdom has been an opportunity for him to become a commander himself, and so far he has always fulfilled his role. Sure, he's not tender, but he's a soldier. An efficient soldier. I don't expect him to be as concessionary as a Shallya priest. For the others, anyway, sooner or later, Schmetterling would have passed the plan on to them. The traitor would have heard about it anyway.
- Maybe this traitor only exists in our imagination? suggested Brisingr.
- The laundress was not murdered by our imagination, Jochen replied.
- I ask you all to be very careful, declared Steiner. Trust only the people in this room. Do your best, come back alive, and keep your eyes open. And find me this Grey Seer!
- What should we do with when we get it? asked Brisingr.
The White Skaven turned to the Bright Mage. His face creased in anger.
- It used the image of the Horned Rat to scare me. It's a sacrilege-sacrilege. For that, the Horned Rat will punish it as he pleases. But it is not the most serious, for me; it pushed me to reject my wife and children, and ordered me to exterminate them! It's a deadly insult! This Grey Seer deserves to die!
Marjan put his hand on the White Skaven's shoulder.
- I understand your feelings, Psody; if someone were to use such methods to break my bond with Jochen, I would strangle him with his own intestines. However, you have to remember that it probably knows quite a few secrets that we too might find useful.
- Marjan, I was a Grey Seer, too. I don't see what it could teach me!
- You never know, Psody. What if it had Clan Skryre engineers under its responsibility who developed new weapons? What if it really had an accomplice hiding after launching corruption on the Nichetti Estate? An enemy captured alive is more precious than a corpse.
- Especially when this captured enemy has an accomplice in our ranks, said Jochen. We will make it spill the beans about the traitor.
The Prince looked gravely at everyone around him.
- I would like to accompany you. As a Prince, I should fight on the front. But I feel I have to stay here. My daughter and grandchildren won't move from home, and I want to be with them. I could be wrong, but I'd prefer to be there if someone with bad intentions took advantage of the situation to cause trouble here.
- We understand, your Highness, Marjan murmured gravely.
- Anyway, it bothers me deeply to say, I was hoping never to have to say these words, but the Commander is right: this is war.
The council ended with these sinister speech.
Supper was ending. Bianka and Isolde were already in bed, and Gabriel, still in shock, remained locked in his workshop. The Prince had taken the opportunity to invite Master Steadyhand at his table. The Gottlieb Twins were also present. Jochen wanted to know more about their enemy.
- Prospero, I have never faced a Grey Seer, I wonder what to fear the most?
- Their pugnacity. They are chosen-chosen ones of the Horned Rat, and they have been reminded of during their whole life. They are therefore convinced that they are superior to ordinary Skaven. And so, as long as they have the advantage, they fight with redoubled ferocity.
- Yeah... But when it finds himself with the Gottlieb Twins on its hands, it'll have to be four times more pugnacious, right, Marjan? Marjan?
Jochen turned to his sister. She was looking towards the window.
- Hey, sis'? Have you a problem?
- Wait! Can't you hear anything?
All were silent. Soon the sound of a horse's frantic gallop reached everyone's ears. Heike got up and wanted to observe what was happening in the courtyard. She opened her eyes wide, recognizing the figure that had just rushed into the mansion.
- Kristofferson?
Some surprise reactions and an instant later, the young brown Skaven entered the dining room, frozen, breathless, his eyes bulging. His mother rushed towards him.
- Kit! What's happening?
The young ratman forced himself to get some air to be able to moan:
- The Orcs attack Wüstengrenze!
- What?
Ludwig Steiner jumped up. He grabbed one of the servants who was clearing the table by the sleeve.
- Go and fetch Commander Schmetterling at the barracks, and tell him to meet me in the staff room!
The valet hastened to leave the room. Kristofferson collapsed in a chair. His mother hastened to give him a glass of water.
- Have a rest. You've arrived, it's right, you're safe.
The brown Skaven boiled, and looked at Psody.
- Oh, Father... What happened to you? You don't look very well!
The White Skaven felt a blow on his heart. They hadn't seen each other for several weeks, and so his slide from a calm state of satisfaction to the anxiety that made him loose control was all the more brutal for his son. He gritted his teeth.
- A Grey Seer has been trying to make me crazy since our last Harvest.
- By Verena's scales!
- Better you know it right now: it spent the last few weeks playing with me, it wanted to scare me, it even pushed me to hurt your sister!
- What a bastard! It must pay!
- Oh yes, it will. And the bill will be far more expensive than it imagines! But first, we have to deal with these Orcs.
Steiner turned to the other two Humans.
- Children, I guess it is not necessary to ask you if you are going to stay there, or if you want to help your mother?
- Excellent guess, your Highness! We will therefore gather a contingent of soldiers!
They got up and headed to the door. Kristofferson raised his hand.
- They have a shaman!
- Wonderful! sighed the Prince. Well, an appropriate response will have to be. Master Steadyhand?
- Yes, your Majesty?
- If they have a shaman, you should go there, a sorcerer in our ranks will increase the chances of success
- I completely agree, the Elf answered. Sorry, Prospero, you will have to fight without my help.
- In any case, I'm going with you! Kristofferson declared firmly.
- No, Kit, then cut the Prince. You stay here.
Kristofferson felt his heart leap into his chest.
- What? Oh no! I'm going back to Wüstengrenze with Master Steadyhand and the Twins, as soon as possible!
- I said no, Kristofferson. You want to fight, for sure. You will, among your family, at the Kreidesglück quarry.
- I promised Sister Carolina to come back with reinforcements!
- Well, reinforcements will arrive. One single person will not change anything, even if you are this person.
Kristofferson bowed his head. Suddenly, he heard a cracking sound in the depths of his heart. He jumped up and punched the table.
- All Klapperschlänge is dead because of these fucking Greenskins! I failed in my mission to protect my fellow citizens! The dead want me to avenge them! The Orcs will all pay me!
His breathing was gasping. His mother was frightened, and his father wasn't reassured either. Even the Prince was shocked to see him in this state. Brisingr Steadyhand stayed behind. Only Sigmund allowed himself to advance towards him. He put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
- Wally and Pol are not stupid, they will understand and explain it to others.
Kristofferson firmly pushed his brother's hand with a slap on his forearm.
- I would make myself quite small if I were you.
- Excuse me?
- You know what I'm talking about! Drinking like a fish wasn't enough for you?
Sigmund only replied with a sigh. His older brother continued:
- You are pitiful! I really had the greatest shame of my life when I read Bianka's letter! And when my friends who stayed at Wüstengrenze find out that my brother is a drunkard and a butcher, what will I look like?
- That is not your problem, declared Psody emphatically.
- Come on, Father! I…
But when he saw the sparkle in his pink eyes, Kristofferson felt the words block in his throat. The White Skaven continued:
- Your brother's behavior is not your responsibility, Kristofferson. I understand-understand you care about the image the princely family should give, but it is up to me and your mother to solve Sigmund's problem. You have your place, and you have to stick to it.
- That's mostly my role, Kit, Steiner said. Until proven otherwise, I am the Prince. In any case, this is not the right time to talk about it; besides, Master Steadyhand is probably not interested. Steadyhand, wait for us in the staff room, would be kindly.
- Immediately, your Majesty.
The Elf hurried out. The Prince spoke again to the eldest of his grandchildren.
- We have a more urgent situation to deal with, and I need you for that.
Kristofferson went from anger to fear. With a knotted voice, he groaned:
- Opa, my sanction is not over! I have to go back!
- Everyone knows how devoted to our cause you are, my little one. Nobody will say anything. Especially if you prove you don't let your passions cloud your judgment. I release you from your sanction. Now go get ready.
The young brown Skaven decided to be fully honest:
- My best friends are over there! I must help them! Well... I want to help them! Right? Wally and Pol are counting on me, as Sister Carolina and Captain Müller do! And the Twins go there! Father, Opa, understand: Jochen and Marjan are my Human brother and sister, I have always fought at their side! I want to be near them to defend the inhabitants, for Vereinbarung!
- And I want you to be by your father's side. He will have to face his own past once again.
- It's his business! Mine is at Wüstengrenze!
- It's not so simple, Kit. Your father will need all the support from those who love him. Against a Grey Seer, I prefer to know he can count on his two best elements. I'm sure that Franzseska will be able to beat the Orcs with her two own children. And your brother is right: your friends will understand.
Psody added:
- Yes, I want to have you by my side. I may have a chance to defeat this Grey Seer by myself, but with you and your brother near me, it will be a certainty-certainty.
Kit then distinguished his mother from the corner of his eye. The poor woman also looked about to cry. There was no need to think long to understand why: no mother wanted to see her child go to war.
A few later, Steiner, Psody, his two big boys, the Master Mage, Nedland and Schmetterling were gathered once more in the hall of the war council.
The Prince summarized the situation to the Commander.
- So, I suppose Feral Skaven were not enough... Now the Orcs are falling on us!
- Commander, I charge you to go to Wüstengrenze with Captains Gottlieb and Master Brisingr Steadyhand.
- We'll have to share the troops. I take half of our garrison, and I'll recruit all the men able to fight on the way.
- Can you really do that? asked Sigmund.
- General mobilization. This is war, young man.
- Perfect. Kristofferson, Sigmund, I charge you with the same mission. Tomorrow morning, you shall leave for Kreidesglück with Nedland, and on the way you will tour neighbouring towns to get any Human or Skaven capable of taking up arms.
- Do you want me to designate one of my officers to lead your troops?
- It won't be necessary, Commander. Prospero is my adopted son, so he has the authority to be obeyed.
- Sure, but does he have experience in fighting between armies? A large-scale battle is not the same thing than a Harvest!
- You are right-right, Commander. I don't have your knowledge of mass combat. But I have a Halfling.
The tall, red-haired man raised his eyebrows.
- Barnrooster?
The scout sneered.
- Hey, I participated in a consequent number of battles in Captain Ludviksson's company. I'm well-trained. I can advise our friend Master Mage.
Schmetterling grunted, but didn't add anything. He bowed and withdrew. The Prince spoke to his two grandsons.
- Go to bed, both of you. You'll need your whole strength.
The two Skaven brothers left the room without adding a word. They went upstairs to the family apartments. As Sigmund was about to enter the door of his room, Kristofferson pointed a furious finger at him.
- Siggy, I'm warning you: if I ever note you have drunk just a drop of alcohol tomorrow morning, you will be really sorry!
The Black Skaven made an annoyed grimace, but didn't say a word. When the door was closed, Kristofferson didn't immediately enter his own room. He tiptoed back down the hall, descended the stairs, and left the property to go to Shallya's Temple.
- There, Prior, you know everything.
Prior Romulus clasped his hands and made a thoughtful pout.
- I don't know this Helga Schmidt person, but if I believe what you've just described to me, she seems to be a strong woman, indeed.
- Sure, and now I'm ashamed. I'd like to come back to her to apologize, and also ask how to fix it, but she might make me gut!
The Human stared at the young ratman.
- Deep down, did you really want to brutalize them?
- No! Lady Miranda even touched me! Only, I haven't thought about it. I had to come back to you as soon as possible!
- You are young, fiery, and you don't always think. I understand your point of view, others would have done like you, or worse. Sigmund wouldn't have hesitated to provoke a big mess!
- Please, Prior, don't talk about Sigmund!
The young Skaven supported the gaze of the prior.
- He too did wrong, and your grandfather confronted him with the consequences of his actions. Things are a little different for you: you acted in an emergency, and no one was seriously injured.
- Yes, but I scared these two women! It is condemned by our laws!
- The same way holding someone against his will is. You wanted to accomplish your mission to save your friends, Lady Schmidt wanted to prevent you in order to help her family. In both cases, the goal was honourable, but the means questionable.
Kristofferson bowed his head. Romulus smiled benevolently.
- Listen to my proposition: first, you leave this temple. Then, you take Verena's missal, read the parable of Kaspar the Unfortunate, and recite Verena's Mercy Prayer three times before going to sleep. I'll visit Lady Helga when it is all over. As the Prince's representative, she will see her case is considered seriously, and we will all agree, as responsible adults, on an arrangement that will allow us to reconcile Steiner and Schmidt.
- I only hope she won't ask me to marry her daughter!
- Why not? If she's a beautiful and intelligent girl...
The chaplain laughed at the dismayed look of the young ratman.
- Just kidding. If you haven't done to her more than a few strokes, her mother has no pressure mean, she wouldn't dare challenge this way the princely family, she would have everything to lose. No, we'll find a more material solution. Go now. Much more painful moments await us, I'm afraid.